Sizer apparatus



A. T. F LODIN SIZER APPARATUS Nov. 30, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb.25, 1964 Allan 7. F lodin INVENTOR.

Nov. 30, 1965 A. T. FLODIN 3,22@,548

S I Z ER APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1964 3 SheetsSheet 2 Fig.3

Allan 7? F lad/n INVENTOR.

A. T. FLODIN SIZER APPARATUS Nov. 30, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb.25, 1964 Allan 7. F lad/n INVENTOR.

9 BY @wm United States Patent "ice 3,22%,543 SIZER APPARATUS Allan T.Fiodin, Sunnyside, Wash, assignor to Flodin, Inc., a corporation ofWashington Filed Feb. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 347,295 4 Claims. (Cl. 209-107)This invention relates to a machine for grading articles according tosize and more particularly to the sizing of produce such as asparagus.

In sizing machines of the type with which the present invention isconcerned, it has been customary to initially separate and collect thesmallest size produce passing downwardly along the rotating sizingrollers progressively spaced by wider amounts in the direction of feed.The sizing effected by such apparatus has not been as accurate aspossible in view of the carry over of smaller size items with the largersize items or produce subsequently passed between the sizing rollersinto collecting channels. Therefore, one of the unique features of thepresent invention, is to provide an arrangement whereby the larger sizeproduce being graded are initially separated from the remainder of theproduce which is subsequently separated into the smaller andintermediate sizes. Carry over of the smaller size produce with thelarger size produce is thereby avoided.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide asize grading machine capable of more accurately grading produceaccording to size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sizer forasparagus or the like capable of achieving the aforementioned objectivein a simple yet effective manner by a novel arrangement of verticallyspaced rows of sizing rollers.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompying drawings forming I21 part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an asparagus sizing machine madein accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the apparatus illustrated inFIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the apparatus takensubstantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a partial transverse sectional view taken substantiallythrough a plane indicated by section line 55 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantiallythrough a plane indicated by section line 66 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view similar to FIGURE 6 butillustrating a modification.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGURES 1, 2and 3, it will be observed that the apparatus of the present inventionincludes a sizing section generally referred to by reference numeral 10receiving produce such as asparagus from a vibrator feed section 12 of aknown design and operation. Asparagus are therefore fed by the vibratorsection 12 and diverted along a plurality of channels for deposit at theupper rear end of the sizer section 10. The sizer section is thereforesupported by a frame assembly 14 in proper spaced relation to thevibrator section 12 from which it receives the asparagus. The frameassembly includes a base portion 16 adjustably spaced above the ground.

ant-s43 Fatented Nov. 30, 1965 Connected to the base portion 16 arelaterally spaced rear posts 18 at the rear end of the frame assembly andlaterally spaced posts 20 at the forward end of the assembly. Also,intermediate posts 22 are provided more closely spaced to the forwardposts 20. Supported at the upper ends of the posts, are side framemembers 24 disposed at a downward incline from the rear posts 18 towardthe forward posts 20. The frame members forming-the frame assemblyincluding the posts may be made of any suitable material and arepreferably tubular in cross section. As more clearly seen in FIGURES 3and 4, the base frame members 16 connected between the forward and rearposts are supported above the ground by adjustable foot assemblies 26mounted at the lower ends of the rear and forward posts. The posts arelaterally spaced by tubular connecting members 28 and supporttherebetween two pairs of sizing roller assemblies including an uppersizer assembly 30 and a lower sizer assembly 32. The upper sizerassembly extends at a downward incline from the rear posts 18 toward theforward posts 20 while the lower sizer assembly extends at the samedownward incline from the rear posts .18 toward the intermediate posts22. Elongated collecting channels or water flumes extend laterallythrough the frame assembly 14 between the posts so as to collect theasparagus according to size. Extending laterally through the frameassembly between the rear posts 18 and the intermediate .posts 22, arethe collecting channels 34 and 36 respectively collecting the smallestsize asparagus and the intermediate size asparagus. A laterallyextending support 38 is disposed between the collecting channels 34 and36 for supporting the adjacent end portions thereof. The opposite wallof the channel 36 is therefore secured to the intermediate posts 22. Thecollecting channel 34 on the other hand, is provided with a relativelylarge inclined wall portion 40 extending toward the rear posts 18 to besecured thereto. A collecting channel 42 for the largest size asparagusextends laterally through the frame assembly between the intermediateposts 22 and the forward posts 20 and has opposite side walls thereofconnected to these latter posts. It will therefore become apparent, thatthe asparagus deposited at the upper end of the sizer section at therear posts 18, will move downwardly along the incline of the sizerassemblies 30 and 32 and be deposited according to size in thecollecting channels 34, 36 and 42 to be carried away by the flow ofWater through the collecting channels.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, it will be observed that the uppersizer assembly 30 is supported between the forward posts 20 and the rearposts 18 by means of a pair of channel frame members 44 and 46interconnected between the posts. The channel frame member 44 supportsthereon two series of laterally spaced journal assemblies 48 and 50respectively secured to adjustable supporting bars 52 and 54. Thechannel frame member 46 similarly mounts two series of laterally spacedjournal assemblies 56 and 58 respectively mounted on the adjustablesupporting bars 60- and 62. The laterally spaced journal assembliessupported on the channel frame members 44 and 46 are supported on theirrespective supporting bars in staggered relation so as to presentlaterally spaced journal assemblies at the forward and rear postsequally spaced by an amount adjusted through the supporting bars.Accordingly, means are provided at opposite ends of the supporting barsfor laterally shifting each series of journal assemblies relative to theother in order to vary the spacing therebetween. For example, lateraladjustment of the series of journal assemblies 56 supported on thechannel frame member 46 may be accomplished at opposite lateral ends byan adjustment screw member 64 as illustrated in FIGURE 6. Accordingly,the ends of the adjustable supporting bar 60, for example, are providedwith an upwardly projecting nut portion 66 threadedly receiving thethreaded portion of the adjustment member 64 that extends through thepost 18 and is provided with a head portion 68 by means of which theadjustment member may be rotated in order to laterally shift thesupporting bar 60. Similar adjustments are provided for the other seriesof journal assemblies through the respective supporting bars 62, 52 and54.

In FIGURE 7, a modified form of adjustment is provided which may replacethe adjustment facilities described in connection with FIGURE 4.Accordingly, the posts may be provided with tubular extensions 70receiving the lateral end portions of tubular frame members 72 on whichthe series of journal assemblies are secured in spaced relation to eachother. An adjustment screw member 74 may therefore be mounted by theposts and extend into abutting relation with the ends of the sup portingframe members 72 so as to effect lateral shifting thereof. The framemembers 72 may therefore be locked in laterally adjusted position bylocknuts 76 threadedly mounted on the adjustment screw members 74.

It will therefore be apparent, that the journal assemblies 48, 50, 56and 58 of the sizer assembly 30 will rotatably mount at a downwardincline, a plurality of parallel spaced roller shafts 78. Each of theroller shafts has mounted thereon a roller section 80 which extends fromthe rear posts 18 and terminates at the intermediate post 22 so as todefine a sizing portion between the rear posts and the intermediateposts for passing all but the larger size asparagus. Accordingly, thelarger size asparagus will pass downwardly along the sizing portioninasmuch as the diameter of these larger size asparagus will exceed thespacing between the rollers 80. The larger size asparagus will thereforebe deposited in the collecting channel 42 falling between the exposedlower end portions of the roller shafts 78 extending between theintermediate posts 22 and the forward posts 20. The asparagus aretherefore deposited .at the rear posts 18 by the vibrator feed section12 and move downwardly within channels defined by a plurality oflaterally adjustable dividing rail assemblies 82.

As more clearly seen in FIGURES 4 and 5, each of the guide assemblies isprovided with a pair of diverging wall portions 84 to which upwardlyextending channel projections 86 and 88 are secured. The channelprojections are therefore provided with slots 90 so that fastenerassemblies 92 may extend therethrough and secure the channel projectionsto angle frame members 94 and 96 which are in turn secured at oppositeends to the upper side frame members 24. The side frame members 24 alsohave secured thereto end wall members 98 cooperating with the adjacentdividing rail assembly 82 to form a feed channel for the asparagus.Adjacent diverging walls of the assemblies 82 are therefore providedwith downwardly depending flexible elements 100 confining the asparagusto the channel formed above the rollers 80 spaced so as to pass thedesired size asparagus. The rollers are rotated in opposite directionsso as to maintain the asparagus in a state of movement and toward thisend, the roller shafts 78 are driven in opposite directions. As moreclearly seen in FIGURES 3 and 4, the lower ends of the roller shafts 78extend beyond their journal assemblies 48 and 50 and have connectedthereto meshing gears 102 so as to ensure that they rotate in oppositedirections. Alternate roller shafts 78 are also provided with sprocketgears 104 by means of which rotation is imparted to the roller shaftsthrough the endless sprocket chain 106. Finally, the roller shaft 78 atone lateral side of the sizer assembly adjacent a forward post 20, isprovided with a drive sprocket 108 about which there is entrained thesprocket chain 110. The sprocket chain 110 is also enmeshed with thesprocket 112 connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 114mounted on the frame assembly at one side adjacent one of the forwardposts 20 by means of the base plate 116.

A similar sprocket chain drive assembly 118 driven by the drive motor120, is provided for the upper end portions of the roller shafts 122associated with the lower sizer assembly 32. The roller shafts 122therefore extend beyond the two series of journal assemblies 124 and 126adjustably supported by the channel frame member 128 between the rearposts 18 in a manner similar to the journal assemblies 56 and 58associated with the upper sizer assembly 30. The lower ends of theroller shafts 122 on the other hand, are supported by two series ofjournal assemblies 130 and 132 adjustably supported on the channel framemember 134 secured between the intermediate .posts 22. The roller shaft122 will therefore be rotatably mounted at a downward incline parallelto the downward incline of the sizer assembly 30 in adjustably spacedparallel relation, lateral adjustment being effected in a manner similarto that described with respect to the journal assemblies of the uppersizer assembly. The roller shafts 122 of the lower sizer assembly arealso provided with rollers 136 which extend from the rear posts 18toward the intermediate posts but terminate in spaced relation therefromleaving lower end portions of the shafts 122 exposed. Also associatedwith the rollers 136, are dividing rail assemblies 138 interconnected inlaterally spaced relation by the angle iron member 140 secured at itsopposite lateral ends to the tubular frame members 142 which areinterconnected between the rear posts 18 and the intermediate posts 22.Accordingly, the same channels are formed between the dividing railassemblies 138 above the oppositely rotating rollers 136 as describedwith respect to the upper sizer assembly 30. However, the spacingbetween the rollers 136 is adjusted so as to pass only the smaller sizeasparagus therebetween for deposit into the collecting channel 34. Theintermediate size asparagus will therefore drop between the exposedlower end portions of the shafts 122 into the collecting channel 36. Theexposed portions of the shafts 122 and the shafts 78 are also providedwith water slinger elements 144. Also, interconnecting the intermediateposts 22 is a rod element 146 to which deflector elements 148 and 150are secured so as to direct the asparagus into the appropriatecollecting channel 36 or 42 and avoid contact with the journalassemblies 130 and 132.

From the foregoing description, the construction and operation of thesizing machine of the present invention will be apparent. It willtherefore be appreciated, that asparagus deposited at the upper end ofthe sizer assembly 30 will move downwardly along the downward incline ofthe sizer assemblies toward the forward posts 20. All but the largersize asparagus will initially drop between the rollers 80 of the uppersizer assembly so that the larger size asparagus will drop into thecollecting channel 42 when moving past the intermediate posts 22. Theasparagus of smaller or intermediate size will therefore drop onto thelower sizer assembly 32 in order to separate them into the smaller sizeasparagus and the intermediate size asparagus respectively collected inthe channels 34 and 36. Accordingly, the length of the lower sizerassembly will be substantialy equal to the length of the rollers 80associated with the upper sizer assembly, both sizer assemblies havingroller shafts having lower end portions respectively disposed abovecollecting channels on opposite sides of the intermediate posts 22. Thejournal assemblies at the lower ends of the sizer assemblies will beprotected by the water slinger elements 144 while additional protectionwill be provided for the journal assemblies associated with the lowerends of the roller shafts 122 by the deflector elements. A more accurateand eificient sizing machine is therefore realized.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows.

1. A size grading machine, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) at least tworows of generally vertically spaced elongated rollers rotatably mountedby the frame at a downward incline, the first and upper row of rollershaving an upper entry end and a lower end, said upper row of rollersbeing disposed in coacting pairs and having first grading sections andsaid pairs being generally horizontally spaced for passage therebetweenof all but the greatest size of a product, said upper row of rollersalso having a shorter second grading section of reduced diameter nearthe lower end for passage of said largest size product therebetween intoa first receiving means; (c) the second and lower row of rollers beingvertically disposed substantially entirely below and generally parallelto the first grading sections of the rollers in the upper row, saidlower rollers including at least two grading sections and disposed incoacting pairs, said pairs being generally horizontally spaced forpassage respectively therebetween of the smallest and intermediate sizesof said product, the first grading section of said lower row of rollersfor passage of the smallest size product extending over the upper andgreater portion of said lower rollers and a shorter second gradingsection of said lower row of rollers of reduced diameter for passagetherebetween of the intermediate size product extending over the lowerportion of said lower rollers; and (d) second and third receiving meansdisposed below said lower row of rollers beneath said first and secondgrading sections for receiving the smallest and intermediate sizes ofsaid product respectively.

2. A size grading machine, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) at least tworows of generally vertically spaced elongated rollers rotatably mountedby the frame at a downward incline, the first and upper row of rollershaving an upper entry end and a lower end, said upper row of rollersbeing disposed in coacting pairs and having first grading sections andsaid pairs being generally horizontally spaced for passage therebetweenof all but the greatest size of a product, said upper row of rollersalso having a shorter second grading section of reduced diameter nearthe lower end for passage of said largest size product therebetween intoa first receiving means; (c) the second and lower row of rollers beingvertically disposed substantially below and generally parallel to thefirst grading sections of the rollers in the upper row, said lowerrollers including at least two grading sections and disposed in coactingpairs, said pairs being generally horizontally spaced for passagerespectively therebetween of the smallest and intermediate sizes of saidproduct, the first grading section of said lower row of rollers forpassage therebetween of the smallest size product extending over theupper and greater portion of said lower rollers and a shorter secondgrading section of said lower row of rollers or reduced diameter forpassage therebetween of the intermediate size product extending over thelower portion of said lower rollers; (d) second and third receivingmeans disposed below said lower row of rollers beneath said first andsecond grading sections for receiving the smallest and intermediatesizes of said product respectively; and (e) means on said frame foradjustably positioning one of each pair of coacting rollers inpredetermined spaced relationship to the other of said pair of rollers.

3. A size grading machine, comprising: (a) a frame; (b) at least tworows of generally vertically spaced elongated rollers rotatably mountedon said frame at a downward incline, the first and upper row of rollershaving an upper entry end and a lower end, said upper row of rollersbeing disposed in coacting pairs and having first grading sections andsaid pairs being generally horizontally spaced for passage therebetweenof all but the greatest size of a product, said upper row of rollersalso having a shorter second grading section of reduced diameter nearthe lower end for passage of said largest size product therebetween intoa first receiving means; (c) the second and lower row of rollers beingdisposed vertically substantially entirely below and generally parallelto the first grading sections of the rollers in the upper row, saidlower rollers including at least two grading sections of differentdiameter and disposed in coacting pairs, said pairs being generallyhorizontally spaced for passage respectively therebetween of thesmallest and intermediate sizes of said product, the first gradingsection of said lower row of rollers for passage therebetween of thesmallest size product and the second grading section of said lower rowof rollers for passage of the intermediate size product; and (d) secondand third receiving means disposed below said lower row of rollersbeneath said grading sections for receiving the smallest andintermediate sizes of said product respectively.

4. A size grading machine, comprising: (a) a frame, (b) at least tworows of generally vertically spaced elongated rollers rotatably mountedby the frame at a downward incline, the first and upper row of rollershaving an upper entry end and a lower end, said upper row of rollersbeing disposed in coacting, oppositely driven pairs and having firstgrading sections, said pairs being generally horizontally spaced forpassage of all but the greatest size of a product through said firstgrading sections, said upper row of rollers having a shorter secondgrading section near the discharge end for passage therebetween of saidlargest size product into a first receiving means; (c) the second andlower row of rollers being disposed vertically substantially entirelybelow and generally parallel to the first grading sections of therollers in the upper row, said lower row of rollers being disposed inoppositely driven, coacting pairs and including at least two gradingsections being generally horizontally spaced for passage respectively ofthe smallest and intermediate sizes of said product, the first gradingsection of said lower row of rollers for passage therebetween of thesmallest size product extending over the upper portion of said lowerrollers and the second grading section of said lower row of rollers forpassage therebetween of the intermediate size product being shorter thansaid first grading section and extending over the lower portion of saidlower rollers; (d) second and third receiving means disposed below saidlower row of rollers beneath said first and second grading sections forreceiving the smallest and intermediate sizes of said productrespectively; and (e) means for delivering various sized products to theupper entry end of said upper row of rollers.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 721,421 2/ 1903Carnochan 209-407 754,390 3/ 1904 Riddlebaugh 209-l07 2,989,180 6/1961Merrick 209-l07 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

1. A SIZE GRADING MACHINE, COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME; (B) AT LEAST TWOROWS OF GENERALLY VERTICALLY SPACED ELONGATED ROLLERS ROTATABLY MOUNTEDBY THE FRAME AT A DOWNWARD INCLINE, THE FIRST AND UPPER ROW OF ROLLERSHAVING AN UPPER ENTRY END AND A LOWER END, SAID UPPER ROW OF ROLLERSBEING DISPOSED IN COACTING PAIRS AND HAVING FIRST GRADING SECTIONS ANDSAID PAIRS BEING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY SPACED FOR PASSAGE THEREBETWEENOF ALL BUT THE GREATEST SIZE OF A PRODUCT, SAID UPPER ROW OF ROLLERSALSO HAVING A SHORTER SECOND GRADING SECTION OF REDUCED DIAMETER NEARTHE LOWER END FOR PASSAGE OF SAID LARGEST SIZE PRODUCT THEREBETWEEN INTOA FIRST RECEIVING MEANS; (C) THE SECOND AND LOWER ROW OF ROLLERS BEINGVERTICALLY DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY ENTIRELY BELOW AND GENERALLY PARALLELTO THE FIRST GRADING SECTIONS OF THE ROLLERS IN THE UPPER ROW, SAIDLOWER ROLLERS INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO GRADING SECTIONS AND DISPOSED INCOACTING PAIRS, SAID PAIRS BEING GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY SPACED FORPASSAGE RESPECTIVELY THEREBETWEEN OF THE SMALLEST AND INTERMEDIATE SIZESOF SAID PRODUCT, THE FIRST GRADING SECTION OF SAID LOWER ROW OF ROLLERSFOR PASSAGE OF THE SMALLEST SIZE PRODUCT EXTENDING OVER THE UPPER ANDGREATER PORTION OF SAID LOWER ROLLERS AND A SHORTER SECOND GRADINGSECTION OF SAID LOWER ROW OF ROLLERS OF REDUCED DIAMETER FOR PASSAGETHEREBETWEEN OF THE INTERMEDIATE SIZE PRODUCT EXTENDING OVER THE LOWERPORTION OF SAID LOWER ROLLERS; AND (D) SECOND AND THIRD RECEIVING MEANSDISPOSED BELOW SAID LOWER ROW OF ROLLERS BENEATH SAID FIRST AND SECONDGRADING SECTIONS FOR RECEIVING THE SMALLEST AND INTERMEDIATE SIZES OFSAID PRODUCT RESPECTIVELY.